[Coco] Microware OS-9 for x86

[Allen Huffman]

The Microware timeline looks something like this -- Boisy may be able to correct my memory if I miss something:

1976 - Microware Systems Corporation is formed in Des Moines.
1977 - RT68 product for 6800 (never learned anything about this).
1980 - OS-9 for 6809
1983 - OS-9 for 68000 (or 68K, or "OSK")
1989 - OS-9 rewritten in C as "Portable OS-9", named OS-9000 and for PC/AT hardware. Some API differences but much basic C code could be compiled.
1995 - OS-9000 ported to PowerPC (? somewhere in here?) then following years for SPARC, ARM, MIPS, SH-3/4, and others.

At some point, marketing decided to change the name to "OS-9" even though there were MAJOR differences between OS-9 and OS-9000. So, it was "OS-9 for 68K" versus "OS-9 for X86/PowerPC/ARM/etc."

This caused much confusion ;-) with engineers.

At one time, there was "Personal OS-9" which was a lower cost package. Microware showed up at 1993 CoCoFEST! in Chicago and sold OS-9000 for PC for like $300 or $400, but that product is long gone.

Today, it's a high end package for system porting projects -- thousands and thousands of dollars.

Would RadiSys allow a hobbyist package? I doubt it -- there are only a handful of folks left maintaining OS-9 at this point, mostly serving legacy customers. BUT, it continues to get updated and revised and new features added.

OS-9 lives on, but not at all like we knew it in the 80s/90s.

-
Allen Huffman • PO Box 22031 • Clive IA 50325 * 515-999-0227
Sent from my iPhone 3GS

On Jun 11, 2010, at 8:21 AM, sales at gimechip.com wrote:

> Yes, since the early 90's. It was originally called OS-9000 for the PC, but has undergone several name changes since then.
> Here are some interesting links:
> http://www.reischke.de/dtr/os9maxfq.htm
> http://www.radisys.com/Products/Microware.html
> http://www.radisys.com/Products/Microware/OS-9-RTOS.html
> 
> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Bill" <cwgordon at carolina.rr.com>
> To: "'CoCoList for Color Computer Enthusiasts'" <coco at maltedmedia.com>
> Sent: Friday, June 11, 2010 7:10 AM
> Subject: Re: [Coco] Message from John of gimechip.com
> 
> 
>> Do I understand that OS9 IS available for the PC?? That would be wonderful
>> if it were.
>> 
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: coco-bounces at maltedmedia.com [mailto:coco-bounces at maltedmedia.com] On
>> Behalf Of Aaron Wolfe
>> Sent: Friday, June 11, 2010 2:20 AM
>> To: CoCoList for Color Computer Enthusiasts
>> Subject: [Coco] Message from John of gimechip.com
>> 
>> Is it possible to still purchase OS-9 for a
>> PC?-http://www.coco3.com/community/2010/05/is-it-possible-to-still-purchase-
>> os-9-for-a-pc
>> 
>> 
>> 
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